Looking for breakthrough ideas for innovation challenges? Try Patsnap Eureka!

Developer conveyance device and image forming apparatus

a conveyancing device and conveyancing technology, applied in the direction of electrographic process equipment, instruments, optics, etc., can solve the problems of increasing cost and bulky devices

Active Publication Date: 2015-05-21
RICOH KK
View PDF3 Cites 12 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus with a developer conveyance device, a destination developer container, a sensor, and a controller. The controller controls the pump to transport developer to the destination container, based on data from the sensor. The sensor is disabled during a non-detection period to avoid interference with the pump's operation. The technical effects include improved control of developer transport and reduced interference between the sensor and the pump.

Problems solved by technology

Thus, the device becomes bulkier, and the cost increases.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Developer conveyance device and image forming apparatus
  • Developer conveyance device and image forming apparatus
  • Developer conveyance device and image forming apparatus

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0022]In describing preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner and achieve a similar result.

[0023]As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes” and / or “including”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. Further, the order of steps in control procedures is not limited to the orde...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a developer conveyance device to transport developer, using a positive-displacement pump to alternately generate positive pressure and negative pressure by changing a volume of an internal space thereof, a destination developer container to which the developer conveyance device transports developer, a sensor provided to the destination developer container, to detect developer in the destination developer container, and a controller to control the positive-displacement pump according to a detection result generated by the sensor. The controller disabled detection of developer by the sensor in a non-detection period that starts from a stop of the positive-displacement pump.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2013-240775 filed on Nov. 21, 2013 and 2014-165797 filed on Aug. 18, 2014 in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Technical Field[0003]Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a developer conveyance device and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having at least two of copying, printing, facsimile transmission, plotting, and scanning capabilities, that includes the developer conveyance device.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, it is proposed to use a positive-displacement pump to transport developer that is either toner or a mixture of toner and carrier (hereina...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G03G15/08
CPCG03G15/0887G03G15/0879G03G15/0858
Inventor MATSUMOTO, JUNICHITSUDA, KIYONORITAKAMI, NOBUOTAKAHASHI, YUTAKAMIKUNIYA, KENTAROKONDOH, KEINOSUKEKAWAKAMI, AKIHIROKOIKE, TOSHIO
Owner RICOH KK
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Patsnap Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Patsnap Eureka Blog
Learn More
PatSnap group products

Browse by: Latest US Patents, China's latest patents, Technical Efficacy Thesaurus, Application Domain, Technology Topic, Popular Technical Reports.

© 2024 PatSnap. All rights reserved.Legal|Privacy policy|Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement|Sitemap|About US| Contact US: help@patsnap.com